Australian possums are a diverse group
of mammals, ranging from tiny gliding possums to large agile
climbing brushtails. The Brushtail Possum is the most familiar
of all the Australian possums. The are found in most areas where
there are trees, especially open forests and woodlands.
The Brushtail has also adapted to living in urban areas, often
making their homes in any dark area, often the space between
a ceiling and roof of many buildings, particularly family homes.
The Brushtail Possum ranges in colour from dark brown to silver-grey
on the back and cream to pale grey on its underside. It has
long oval ears, a pink nose and a big bushy tail, brown-black
in colour.
Picture thanks to Ben Hudson
The diet of Brushtail
possums consist mainly of leaves, especially
eucalypt leaves and also native fruits, buds
and bark in the forests. They also eat a variety
of other food in urban areas where they rummage
in gardens and exposed rubbish bins of home
owners.
The major breeding season of the possum seems
to be in autumn and the minor season of spring.
Females usually begin reproducing at the age
of one year.
The young can spend up to 4-5 months in the
mother's pouch, attached to one of the two
teats, where it develops quite quickly. 1-2
months are then spent suckling and riding about
on the mother's back.
Usually after this weaning period, it leaves
the mother and makes its own way into the world.
Even though possums are at the mercy of being
killed by foxes, dogs, humans and bushfires,
they are still large in numbers and they are
amongst the most familiar and popular Australian
mammals.
Picture of a possum
in our own back yard
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